Another Tease: Audi Will Unveil Urban Concept Spyder at Frankfurt Motor Show

Take the convertible body style of a Mazda MX-5, the clever seats from a Toyota iQ, and the electric powertrain from a Nissan Leaf. Now make it German. Voila: you essentially have Audi’s newest creation -- the Urban Concept Spyder -- which will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.The Urban Concept Spyder will share the same basic features as the original Urban Concept; that is, it will continue to use eye-popping 21-inch alloy wheels, a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) body shell, and a 1+1 seating arrangement that places the passenger to the right of and behind the driver.The exterior appearance will be roughly the same as well. The Spyder retains the R8-style side wings, along with the Audi corporate face, complete with narrow LED running lamps and headlights. A visionary concept car isn’t complete without some crazy doors; on the Spyder, they open up and to the rear of the car instead of swinging out.Beneath the CFRP shell, the Spyder gets the same powertrain as its fixed-roof sibling. Two electric motors, powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, help whisk the car along. No power figures were given, but Audi says to expect that the Spyder will accelerate “powerfully.”Not much else appears to differ from the Urban Concept coupe, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing: dropping the top on a car usually makes it a little more enjoyable. Besides, having a conversation with someone on the sidewalk about how cool (or green, in this instance) your car is doesn’t require you to roll down the windows if a roof isn’t in the way.Expect further details on the Urban Concept and the Urban Concept Spyder to emerge closer to their Frankfurt debut in September. Stay with Automobile Magazine for all the latest news on Audi’s electric duo, along with other debuts at the Frankfurt show.Source: Audi